Mabus to head Gulf restoration plan

President Barack Obama told the nation that in the coming days and weeks, new efforts to stem the flow of crude into the Gulf of Mexico "should capture up to 90 percent of the oil." Obama in his Tuesday night speech from the Oval Office also named Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, former governor of Mississippi, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan that will be designed by states, local communities and other stakeholders from the Gulf Coast. The president called the leak an epidemic that will be fought "for months and even years." Obama, who spent the last two days on the Gulf Coast, said he'll meet with the chairman of BP Wednesday "and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness." He said the fund will be administered by an independent third party. (Source: Tcp, 06/15/10)